The shrouded figure crouched in the soft snow by the bridge, still and unseen. Her prey was walking towards her
in the near dark, stopping now and then to pick snowberries.
She concentrated on slowing her breathing and focusing her night vision. She tilted her Orcish dagger slightly so
the moonlight would not reveal it.
Her Dark Brotherhood armour blended her into the shadows and silenced every move. She felt her bloodlust rise
as her prey came within reach. It was more delicious than the best skooma or the sweetest lover. This was her
favourite part - the glorious anticipation almost as good as when the knife first bit, the skin split and the blood flowed.
She leapt from her hiding place and pounced on the unsuspecting traveller. She knew not and cared not who wanted
him dead, it was her duty and her pleasure to carry out the contract. The reward was almost unnecessary as the
satisfaction of the kill was so much more valued.
She grabbed the stranger by the throat but found she was easily thrown off. Momentarily shocked she leapt at him
again, baring her sharp teeth and cursing fiercely. The stranger had swiftly equipped himself with dual swords;
a sharp edged Orc forged green demon; flashing in the moonlight and echoing her own blade and a blood-stained
war-horse of Imperial steel, firmly gripped and expertly wielded.
She managed to block the slicing Orcish blade with her own dagger, but the Imperial sword flashed by and sliced
her forearm. For the first time in her life the Assassin stepped back. Her armour and skill were not enough to ward
off the onslaught. She ducked and parried as best she could but she was no match for this unassuming stranger
with whirling blades. In a blurring move from the man she felt a chest splitting blow across her breast and she fell.
The chill of the bloodied snow against her back matched the chill creeping up her limbs and she watched helpless
as her life's blood poured from her, matting her perfect fur.
As her night vision failed and her cat eyes dulled, she called to her God.
"Sithis, claim me!"
High above in the frozen sky, the Shadow constellation sparkled, her birth sign destined to keep her safe in the shadows
now called her home.
